Ukraine uses mock-ups of Stormer HVM air defense systems to deceive Russians

1 December, 2024 Ukrainian mock-up of the Stormer HVM air defense system in Donbas. November 2024, Ukraine. Photo: Russian propagandist Grigory Vdovina

The invasion forces discovered and seized a mock-up of the Stormer HVM anti-aircraft missile system in Donbas. It happened in one of the frontline sectors, and Russian propagandist Grigory Vdovina published the photo. The model was assembled from plywood sheets and beams and was painted in a dark color.

The production of military equipment and air defense system models in Ukraine is done using original dimensions and with great detail.

Ukrainian mock-up of the Stormer HVM air defense system in Donbas. November 2024, Ukraine. Photo: Russian propagandist Grigory Vdovina

For this reason, the Russians often destroy mock-ups of such systems, mistaking them for real air defense systems, such as IRIS-T, NASAMS, and others.

Mock-ups of military equipment have been used for a long time, even during World War II, and were used quite effectively to deceive the enemy, disinform, and deflect attacks from real equipment.

Russian pneumoframe mock-up of the 9A317 TEL from the Buk-M2 air defense system composition. January 2024. Russia.

Photo credits: sputnik

However, modern technology has taken the art of deceiving the enemy to new levels. Over time, the shape and material of the mock-ups change. The British STORMER air defense system destroys targets day, night, and in any weather.

It is armed with Starstreak missiles. That is why it is important to camouflage such valuable systems. Each of the system's missiles has three "arrows" that separate in the air and hit the target with fragments.

Stormer HVM air defense system in Ukraine, 2023.

Photo credits: ArmyInform

The STORMER can detect targets at a distance of 18 kilometers, with a kill range of 7 kilometers. The launchers of the British anti-aircraft system can accommodate 8 Starstreak missiles at a time, with a total of 12 missiles. In addition to the Starstreak missile, it is possible to use Martlet missiles, which provide a range of destruction of targets up to 9 kilometers.

Stormer HVM air defense system in Ukraine, 2023.

Photo credits: ArmyInform

The Ukrainian military said that on average it takes about a month to master the British SAM.